Fireproof bus body



5 as at) G. CROMMEY FIREPROOF BUS BODY Filed July 16, 1955 INVE NT DR March 30, 1937.

Patented Mar. 30, 1931 UNiTED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

This invention relates to improvements in automobile bus bodies, and its leading object is to provide a bus body with a roof structure and baggage compartments for the passengers, which are sealed from each other and protected by fireproof side walls, to prevent or delay the progress of a fire from one baggage compartment to another.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an automobile bus roof structure having a series of vertical partitions forming fireproof bulkheads, shelf members joining the partitions to provide individual or group passenger baggage compartments, and doors constructed to open inwardly, and to seal, when closed the baggage compartments, the roof being constructed with openings closed by glass panel inserts and having a lower fire resistance than the partitions, doors and shelfs, so that the fire will break outwardly rather than inwardly.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a bus body construction of this general design, in which a baggage tray is provided for each compartment, which may be pulled outwardly when a fire starts in the compartment, so that the baggage or personal effects may be recovered before complete destruction takes place.

With the above and other objects in view the invention consists in certain new and useful constructions, combinations, and arrangements of parts, clearly described in the following specification, and fully illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view through a bus embodying my improvements.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view, partly in plan.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary View showing a group of sealed baggage compartments in elevation.

Fig. 4 is a detail horizontal sectional view taken through a single compartment, showing the fireproof partition wall construction.

Fig. 5 is another detail sectional view, showing the joint between the door and the fireproof partition wall.

Referring to the accompanying drawing illustrating the practical embodiment of my invention 5 designates body of the bus, which is mounted to roll over the ground on the usual wheels 6, driven in any suitable manner, not shown.

The side walls 7 and 8 of this body support the roof structure 9, the central overhead portion ll) of which may be constructed of any suitable material. The side wings II and I 2 are shown to be formed with outwardly curved side walls l3 and I 4, which are connected to the vertical side walls 1 and 8 of the bus body.

On each side of the body at the upper end of the side wall thereof, a horizontal shelf [5, of fireproof material, is mounted, so as to provide a continuous support for the baggage of the passengers. The space above this shelf is divided into individual baggage compartments by means of the vertical partitions l6, which are spaced longitudinally from each other, and which form bracing means connecting the horizontal shelf to the roof structure.

Each vertical partition consists of outer facing plates I! and N3, of steel, and a filling I9 of asbestos or other non-combustible material. The inner end of each partition may be equipped with a parting flange 25!, narrower than the partition itself, for separating the adjacent ends of the doors 2| from each other, so that each compartment may be completely sealed from the other compartments.

The outer vertical end of each vertical partition wall I 6 may be connected to the roof side wall by means of the U-shaped locating strip or bar 22. Each door is supported at its upper end on the horizontal hanger bar 23, by hinges 24. The lower end of each door is equipped with a locking element 25, designed to engage the lock 26, attached to the shelf, so that the door may be locked. A handle 2'! is also provided on the lower portion of the door, to facilitate opening the same. The lock may be of any suitable type, and the handle may be of the folding type, and connected to the look so that when it is lifted the lock will be opened.

The roof is equipped with a series of vent openings 28, which are normally sealed by the glass panels or inserts 29, and one of these openings and its panel, is located directly in line with each compartment. Should a fire break out in any compartment the glass insert would crack and be blown out, and the adjacent section of the roof, being of relatively low resistance to fire destruction, would be broken through by the action of the fire, thus allowing it to exhaust itself within the individual compartment in which it started.

Each door may be retained in its open position by means of folding brace hinge members 30, connected to each other by means of the friction joint 3 I, and at their outer ends to the door and the roof respectively.

I claim as new:-

A fireproof bus construction, consisting of a wheeled frame provided with upright sides and a roof supported thereby, the roof being provided on one side thereof with a shelf supported below the same, a series of partitions arranged transversely of the shelf dividing the same into a series of baggage holding compartments, each of said partitions consisting of metal plates spaced apart to provide a fire resisting chamber between the opposite sides thereof, non-combustible ma- 10 terial disposed in each partition chamber, trans- 

